Harry Kane made history as Bayern Munich confirmed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with victory against Bayer Leverkusen.
The striker’s close-range finish in the 52nd minute was his 10th in Europe this season, more than any other English player has scored in a single campaign in the competition’s history.
Bayern came into the second-leg tie with a 3-0 lead following a commanding performance at home last week, and were again the better side in Leverkusen.
Vincent Kompany’s men posed the greater threat in the first half, with Michael Olise and Kingsley Coman both firing narrowly wide.
Leverkusen needed to come out and attack after the break, but it was Bayern who put the tie beyond doubt when Patrik Schick’s attempted clearance of a Joshua Kimmich free-kick fell straight at the feet of Kane who bundled home from a few yards out.
With their star man Florian Wirtz ruled out with an ankle ligament injury, the hosts lacked invention and impact in the attacking third.
Xabi Alonso’s side were looking to become only the fifth side in Champions League history to overturn a three-goal first leg deficit, yet it took them 65 minutes to register a shot on target.
Jeremie Frimpong forced Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig into a smart low stop, before Schick headed straight at the visiting stopper moments later
Leverkusen’s desperation left more space for Bayern to exploit and Alphonso Davies took full advantage by converting Kane’s cross from close range in the 71st minute.
The England captain then spurned a good chance to add a third when he placed wide under little pressure, before he rattled the crossbar with a snap-shot on the turn. Jamal Musiala also struck the post from a tight angle with 10 minutes left after being sent away by Serge Gnabry’s pass.
Bayern will face Inter Milan in the quarter-finals after the Serie A champions defeated Feyenoord. The first leg will take place on 7/8 April with the second leg a week later.
Bayern now contenders after bad start
Despite not always convincing this season, Bayern now have to be considered among the favourites to win the Champions League.
Kompany took charge last summer of a team that had failed to win silverware for the first time in a decade and, after two defeats in their first three European games, things looked a little bleak.
Losses to Aston Villa and Barcelona were followed by a 3-0 upset at Feyenoord, before Bayern scraped past Celtic in the play-off round last month.
Yet Kompany’s men – eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga – eliminated defending German champions Leverkusen without really having to break sweat and seal a 35th appearance in the quarter-final of Europe’s elite club contest – four shy of Real Madrid’s record mark.
While there remains questions about their defence, especially now that veteran keeper Manuel Neuer is out for for the foreseeable future with a calf injury, few teams can match their firepower at the other end of the pitch.
Kane has followed up a record-breaking debut season in Bavaria with 32 goals in 36 games in all competitions, and the 31-year-old is in the running to top the Champions League scoring charts for a second successive campaign.
Musiala was also excellent playing just behind the Englishman, while Olise and Coman impressed on the wings and Leon Goretzka’s revival continued in central midfield.
“To beat this team 5-0 [on aggregate] shows the type of team we are and the path we are on,” said Kane.
“It’s never easy to start with a 3-0 lead, but the intensity we showed, we had the beter chances, we knew the game would open up in second half and we took our chances.
“We try not to listen to the noise too much, we know what we’re capable of. This will only give us confidence performing against a top side.”
With Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund or Lille waiting in the semi-finals should Bayern get past Inter, the Munich outfit will feel they have a great chance to reach the final of the competition for the first time since 2020 – a showpiece that will be held at their own Allianz Arena.-BBC
